coffee dates and secrets.

As anyone with ears could tell you, the sound of an alarm clock is the most obnoxious sound known to human ears. Especially at five in the morning.

Daniel knew this all too well as his alarm started that morning. He rolled over in his bed and pressed the button on the alarm clock. He looked at the time and grunted as he yanked himself out of bed. Shuffling sleepily to his bathroom he began his morning routine.

Once showered he felt slightly more awake, he took to getting dressed. Looking over his face relieved he noticed his tanned skin had cleared up from a recent breakout. He brushed his hair and checked his root growth on his recent hair colour. He had dyed it a dark brown with a blue streak in the front. It hadn't been long so it hadn't grown out much.

Daniel worked in a fast food restaurant. Flipping burgers wasn't a hard job, nor was working the register. But working with the general public was enough to send you to a mental institute.

He got his bag and put his hat and apron in it, as well as his keys and phone, before throwing it over his shoulder. He grabbed a banana on the way out and on his way he pulled out his phone to check his social media and his dating profile. To his dismay both message inboxes were barren. he shoved it in his trouser pocket and locked the door of his small apartment.

Once at work, he put his hat and apron on in the staff room. As he turned to leave the door opened and the one saving grace to his day walked in. his best friend Josephine. Her ginger lions mane pulled into a loose messy bun under her hat, but strays swirled defiant down her freckled neck.

"Yes! Josie! What's up?" He exclaimed, raising his hand to greet her. She turned and when she saw him her eyes brightened

"Yes! Hey bestie!" she rejoiced relieved to see her friend working the same shift.

Once clocked in it was standard, burger orders going out and the loud machines and heat of the fryers almost drowning the hustle from the customers on the other side.

When Josephine and Daniel finished eight hours later the ache of their muscles was practically audible. Daniel sat in the staff room to wait as Josephine finished. He grunted as he sat down and sighed in relief when he had the weight off his feet. The dull ache continued and he leaned back in his chair and let his head fall back.

"Oh no Daniel's dead!" Josephine said feigning shock. She shook him dramatically. "No Daniel! who will filter the fryer on monday?" she said laughing, mocking the manager's voice.

He rolled his eyes at her and fake laughed. He was the only one who did it since the automated filter broke. They got ready to leave and decided to get lunch before they left.

The walk to the local coffee chain wasn't far and they chatted while they walked.

"Any luck on the dating website I showed you?" Josephine asked, curious. Dan shook his head and frowned.

"None of the guys on there even want something substantial, just hook ups." he complained.

They continued the conversation in the coffee shop while they ordered. Cold caramel frappe for Daniel, hot hazelnut latte with almond milk for Josephine.

"Well it can't be as bad as some of the messages I get. Listen to this." she pulled out her phone as they sat down. "Hey I like your profile picture. I said thanks, I put a lot of effort into picking one. Does that mean you aren't as pretty in person? I said it's not like I'm using filters and stuff. So he sends a pic of his dick." She turned the phone and lo and behold a picture of a dick. Daniel pretended to heave. Men could be pigs he thought to himself

"I tried to ask one guy what he did for a living, got a dick pic. It's like they only want to show their dicks off." Josephine groaned, exasperated.

Daniel patted her shoulder and gave her an apologetic look.

"I apologise for all straight men." he joked, pulling a chuckle from Josephine.

They parted ways and walked to their respective homes, waving before they were out of sight. He put his earbuds in, turned on the music app in his phone and walked home quietly. Ignoring the world around him.

Daniel felt the buzz of his phone and checked it, to find the dating app's icon on the top bar. He pressed it and it opened the app to the chat window.

*Hi, I'm Adam. I'd almost given up finding a match on this app!*

The message read, Daniel raised his eyebrows. This was the first message that didn't include a dick pic he had received so far.

Daniel thought this was very promising. He put his phone back into his pocket and continued walking home. By the time he got home and had sat down on the sofa he had almost forgotten about the message.

He logged into the app on his phone. He followed the message and went into the dating profile of Adam.The picture at the top was a man in his mid twenties, long brown hair and strong jawline, just my type Daniel thought to himself happily.

Daniel realised he had been staring at the picture and reading the profile for a while, wondering what to say. The perfect opening line was lost on him. Finally he typed a simple greeting and asked if he had been on the app long. The only thing he could think of and it didn't inspire romance in the slightest.

*Hi Adam! I had almost given up as well! How long have you been on here?*

Daniel decided to make a cup of tea and mull it over. What did he want to know about this seemingly perfect man? What would he want him to know about Daniel?

He didn't have to wait long, as the kettle clicked his phone buzzed once again.

Adam- *I have been on this app for a few weeks, how about you?*

Daniel- *same here, do you live in Cathtree?*

Adam- *I just moved here, how about you?*

Daniel- *Lived here my whole life*

Adam- *So you'll know all the good dating spots then huh?*

Daniel blushed, this was the longest conversation he had had on the app and he was grinning from ear to ear unable to rip his eyes from his phone.

Daniel- *I know a few places, how about I take you to my favourite coffee place?*

Adam- *I'd love that, are you free tomorrow?*

Daniel swallowed nervously, this was admittedly his first date since he came out to his family and friends. He didn't even know how this date should even go down.

Daniel- *Yeah I am, how about we grab lunch? Do you want to meet up about 12?*

Adam- *That sounds great! shall we meet outside the train station? I am out of town tonight but I'll get off the train about then.*

Daniel sent a thumbs up and put his phone down. He felt like he could squeal with excitement and nervous energy.

****************************************************************

Daniel stood outside the train station nervously, looking at his phone at every opportunity. He had arrived fifteen minutes early and the anticipation was driving his mind wild with nervous energy. He pulled his fingers through his hair and looked into the station, hoping to catch a glimpse of his date. The train that Adam was arriving on was due any minute and the chilly autumn wind wasn't the only reason Daniel was trembling.

A rush of people sent Daniel's hairs on end. The train had arrived and Adam was with it. Daniel stood waiting as a small crowd passed around him. He looked around to make sure that Adam didn't pass him by but couldn't see past a lot of the people.

A tap on his shoulder broke his concentration and startled him, making him jump in his skin a little.

"Hi, Daniel?" A smooth, clear voice called out over the crowd. Daniel turned to see Adam in the flesh. Adam flashed a wide smile. "So great to meet you!" He exclaimed, pulling Daniel into a tight hug.

"Adam? Hi!" Daniel replied, surprised by the sudden embrace.

Adam released Daniel, holding onto his shoulders still.

"Lets go get some coffee. I have had a morning you wouldn't believe!" Adam sighed dramatically, letting go to Daniels shoulders and picking up a canvas shoulder bag Daniel hadn't seen before.

Daniel pointed the way and they walked the short distance to the small coffee shop.

The coffee shop had a rustic industrial feel, with a thick wooden counter and metal stools up front, but the back had a more relaxed hippy vibe with abstract art on the walls and sofas with coffee tables. Daniel ordered an almond latte and Adam ordered a Mocha with Coconut milk.

"No dairy?" Daniel asked curiously.

"Not for me, I can't stand the stuff." Adam replied, pulling an exaggerated grossed out face that made Daniel smirk slightly.

They took their drinks over to the back where the sofa waited. Daniel put his latte glass onto the coffee table and fell into the welcoming sofa. Adam did the same before sitting next to Daniel on the sofa.

Daniel swallowed nervously as Adam sat so close their thighs touched. The air around them became electric, Daniel bit his lip nervously and looked at Adam. He seemed amused at Daniels hesitancy and shuffled away ever so slightly.

"Sorry, too close?" Adam asked coyly. Daniel felt like his face was aflame and shrugged.

"I'm just new to the dating scene, I didn't come out until late last year." Daniel explained shyly. Adam seemed surprised but nodded understanding.

"I get it." Adam said matter of factly. "So, have you dated anyone yet or is this your first date?" He pried, twisting around with one leg on the sofa under his knee, elbow on the back on the sofa nonchalantly.

Daniel admitted it was his first date.

Before they knew it the awkward air vanished and they were chatting away about this and that. Adam admitted he had a girlfriend in the past but didn't work out.

"Hey do you want anything else? My treat." Adam asked, pointing at the now empty coffee cups.

"No thanks, oh, actually I'd love a glass of water." Daniel asked, thinking carefully. Adam smiled and took both cups away to the counter. Daniel watched carefully as his date walked away, he noticed his grey jeans were tight against his muscular thighs. He looked Adam up and down and saw he had a small tattoo on the back of his neck, a small black silhouette of a bull with the nose ring coloured yellow. Daniel thought it was strange and wondered if it was of Adams star sign or something.

Adam returned with two glasses, one iced tea and one water with some ice. He handed the water to Daniel and as he bent over to put the tea on the low table Daniel caught a glimpse of Adam's muscular chest. He felt a heat flush into his cheeks and he looked away sharply and sipped his water.

"See something you like?" Adam asked in a low, seductive voice. Daniel almost swallowed a cube of ice, embarrassed to have been caught checking out his date.

"Yeah, uh, no? I'm sorry!" Daniel stammered, unable to speak with any more sense. Adam chuckled again, putting his glass to his lips with a cheeky grin.

"So, you are new to the dating scene, does that mean you haven't…?" Adam asked after placing his glass on the table once again.

Daniel felt like his heart hit the ground. Did Adam not want someone who didn't have any experience? Or did he want someone totally new so he could teach them what he liked? Daniel mulled over his decision before looking back at Adam who had a wide toothy grin on his face.

"I bet you haven't been with anyone yet, am I right?" He asked, probing. Daniel conceded and shook his head. Adam raised his brows and for a second a dark look flashed across his brown eyes that scared Daniel a little.

Adam seemed to undress him with his eyes for a second before being distracted by his mobile phone ringing.

"I am so sorry, I just need to answer the old man." Adam's face seemed to drop, disappointed in the interruption. He got up off the sofa and left the area to take the call by the counter. No doubt because the signal got spotty at the back, Daniel thought.